Puerto Rico the Hybrid state

When I first arrived in Puerto Rico a short 7 months ago, I was excited to get to know a new country, or should I say territory or commonwealth. I had never thought about Puerto Rico before I decided to take the Americorps position.

Before I came I did some research on the country to know what I was getting myself into. I actually shaped my senior thesis around Puerto Rico's island of Vieques and how the United States Military used it as a bombing ground to practice war time activities. What I studied about Vieques would be the foundation of how I came to view this confused island as a foreigner.

The island of Vieques, as well as Culebra, are two small islands of the eastern coast of the island. The US Navy had previously used, as practice grounds for war time activities. Meaning they would bomb the shit out the islands in order to prepare for such historic events as the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, WWII, the list goes on. The United States abused this island, killed its economy, and forced its inhabitants to to move from their homes as the US occupied 2/3 of the island of Vieques.

Although this may sound terrible, Puerto Rico has also seen many advantages from being a part of the US. For example, before US intervention there was no institution of higher education, no university! The Spanish were ruthless bastards, who controlled the island with an iron fist. The Spanish government actually began to grant PR some autonomy in the late 1800's but the US and Spain went to war and PR's newly found autonomy was quickly snatched up and placed under the eye of US control. For those who don't know, the Spanish and Americans went to war in 1898 after the Spanish supposedly sank the US Maine outside of Cuba, and the Americans declared war. With the Spanish American War of 1898 the US received the countrys of PR, American Samoa / Guam, the Philippines, as well as a military occupation of Cuba. After the Spanish/American war the United States and its territories stretched from the far Pacific to Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.

Flash forward to modern day Puerto Rico, what do you have? A commonwealth. A semi autonomous territory that controls its domestic issues but has no input on international affairs, neither a vote in the United States congress. Puerto Rico has a delegate in congress, who represents the country, can give his opinion, but does not vote. That person is basically there to give his 2 cents and hope that someone takes notice.

However the relationship with the United States is sooooooo strong. Two of the three political parties support a relationship with the United States. The Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) supports the commonwealth status, does not want to be a state but wants to be associated with US. Afterall, PR is highly funded by American tax dollars. Then you have the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP). The PNP supports statehood, wanting to make PR the 51st state of the union and complicate the design of the American flag (Seriously, where would that extra star go? It would look entirely out of place!) You can see the PNPs proudly waving the American flag everywhere you go. During the Puerto Rican primaries you see caravans of Puerto Ricans proudly waving the American flag. And finally you have the Independentistas, those who support an independent Puerto Rico. Go to any public university here and you can find these independentistas who think PR should be free. The independentista movement would be a drastic blow to Puerto Rico.

The unemployment rate is already 12%, higher than any other state, and the average Puerto Rican makes about $12,000 or so which is severely lower than any other state. My fear is, what would PR do without US help. Ethnocentric as I may be speaking, take a look around Latin America, where do you see a thriving economy? They really don't exist. It seems like every country is plagued with unemployment and a weak currency. I speak Spanish and this gives me another perspective on the world, because I can understand how other people view the world, and I have been trying to figure out what I think of this confused island. I try to listen to other peoples opinions and I have friends from all parties, PPD, PNP and Independent (PIP)

I am torn on my political beliefs and the "right" future for PR. I am somewhere between PPD and PNP. Puerto Rico IS a different country. Although there are many aspects that mirror a US state (Such as there is money [they use the US dollar] affluent people, as well it is very modern, developed country). I think it would be better if it were a US state, because at least it would have a vote, the people could vote in presidential elections and have an opinion in the direction of their country. It is also important to inform you that PR would have a population greater than 26 or so other states, giving it more seats in the House, as well as more electoral votes in the electoral college than half of the 50 states, but this is another issue. But what I fear is if it were a state, is that it would lose its great feel. The Hybrid that it is. The hybrid that is molded from a Latin American/Caribbean culture, with the United States. A true encuentro de los dos mundos, a meeting of two worlds. The Puerto Ricans are a proud people, full of life, and loving. Even though the money may not be as abundant as it is in a US state, the people are happy and loving. They love their salsa, and are very welcoming. Almost everywhere I go, I am greeted by a handshake by a man or a kiss on the cheek by a woman. And if I have a question in a store a woman may tell me "Digame amor" or "Diga me joven" Tell me my love, or tell me young person (but not a direct translation to young person).

I also like the relax on the law that there is here. For example, I can stop in any gas station pick up a Medalla light (the local beer), bring it to my car and cruise away. It is illegal to have an open bottle just like in the states, but it is not as strictly enforced. I see people do it ALL the time. However, I do not advocate drinking and driving, but I just use this as an example. The laws are not as strictly enforced here, neither is the negative social conotation of alcohol and drugs (Don't worry, I am not sticking needles into my arm...yet). E.G. in the United States if you drink twice weekly, get drunk on the weekends, you have someone to tell you that you're an alcoholic, an addict ect. FUCK THAT, go to any country in Europe, Latin America and you'll see people getting fucked up just like they do in the states, if not more. But you don't have someone making you feel guilty for what you did.

I enjoy the differences that Puerto Rico has, I also enjoy the similarities. PR is a hybrid, like I said before. An almost, yet not quite, and so far from being a US state. I don't want Puerto Rico to lose what it has, its language, or culture because, because they truly define the island. I fear that assimilation into the US would kill all that Puerto Rico has to offer. For this reason I remain torn between statehood and commonwealth status.

I will continue this blog and write other stories on PR. Everyone get ready to know PR a little better, as you should, the Puerto Ricans are Americans (granted US citizenship in 1917 by the Jones Act) and deserve our attention. FYI, in June PR will hold their democratic primary, in which 63 delegates will be up for grabs and PR will have a say in who becomes the democratic primary - Está cabrón! (Fucking crazy!)

Go in peace serve the lord (peace be to god). haha, not really, you can if you want, but thanks for reading.